Courage is in everyone, apply it

Last week I was sent a quote by John Wayne about courage. It read “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” This quote got me seriously thinking about the concept of courage. After much reflection on my personal experiences, I have come to a highly defined perception of courage.

As a combat veteran, I have seen soldiers respond to enemy fire. While I would have loved to say that the heat of combat reveals the purest example of courage, I cannot. I found that in extreme situations that men will fall to the level of their training. In combat there is no time for rational thought and reflection. A Soldier reacts and executes their established orders. It is only after the battle has been won that fear occupies their minds. It is the moments of peace after the battle that thoughts are flooded with the consequences of failure and the costs of war. I have seen tears stream down their solemn faces as they try to process the intense life-threatening experiences they just fought through. Those tears carried no shame with them, nor did they diminish the victory. While the intensity of the battlefield is often used as an illusion to test courage, I find it to be a poor measure of true courage.

Any true test of courage demands two factors. First, cognitive thoughts and decisions must be present. This condition will rule out most extreme situations in which the body’s natural defense systems activate the “fight or flight” mechanism that prevents higher-level thought. Second, any test of courage must come with a cost, be it real or imagined. There must be a consequence that might hurt. This can include physical or emotional pains, loss of social status, or loss of freedoms. This consequence must also be significantly heeded. Acting recklessly or without regard to consequence can therefore not be viewed as courage. An individual must choose between if their _____ (character, freedom, values, repetition, etc.) is more valuable than the alternative (not saying anything, lowering standards, etc.).

This brings us to some very hard questions about our values and virtues. Are our lives worth more than our freedoms? Is our popularity worth more than our standards? It is these types of questions and situations that are true tests of bravery. While I would assert an individual’s actions on a battlefield is a poor assessment of courage, the decision to place the needs of a country above one’s own personal safety is a remarkable display of courage. By the same token, it is fact that we choose to face our challenges that are more important than the outcome of the situation. Courage isn’t dependent on whether you win or lose; it’s dependent on the fact you tried.

While we usually think courage is used in the most difficult situations, it is exercised numerous times in our daily lives. If you seek to find the bravest of individuals, you do not have to look in the extreme, just search for an individual of character. They are not too difficult to find. You will see it in the underage student that turns down a drink. You will see it in the individual that works until the job is done, not just “good enough.” In the end, don’t wait for great situations to present themselves start practicing courage, do it on a daily basis.